The global trend towards increasingly larger cities with 10, 15 or 20
million residents is associated with growing demands for transport
solutions – more and more products and goods will need to be
delivered to cities and transported away from them. At the same time, legal
authorities are demanding significant reductions in greenhouse gases and
emissions as well as compliance with more stringent CO2 limits. Moreover,
many large cities are implementing vehicle access restrictions to avoid
smog and fine particulate pollution. The e-Co-Motion concept vehicle, an
electrically powered city delivery van from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles,
now offers a potential solution.

Such a city delivery van, according to Dr. Eckhard Scholz, Spokesperson
of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles who gave a
presentation this evening, should be designed to exclusively utilise
electric drive systems, so that users can realise the many benefits of its
vehicle properties. In the specification for such a project, top priority
should be given to a vehicle that is highly manoeuvrable with a small
footprint and offers very good all-round visibility with a high seat
position. In addition, very good seat ergonomics with easy entry and
walk-through are desirable. Loading should be made easy by a low cargo
floor height, and the vehicle should also offer a large cargo capacity.
Ideally, the overall concept should be implemented as a uniform platform
that could serve as a basis for as many derivatives as possible - for a
wide variety of body concepts and customer solutions.

The electric drive unit is mounted to the rear axle together with a
single-speed planetary gearbox to achieve large wheel turning angles at the
front axle and thereby the manoeuvrability that is so important for city
operation. As a result, its turning circle is 8.95 metres, which is unique
in this vehicle class. The continuous power output of the compact drive
unit is an energy-saving 50 kW. The drive unit’s maximum power is 85
kW, while its maximum torque of 270 Nm enables good acceleration even in
heavily loaded vehicles. Although it was designed for city deliveries on
city streets, the electronics of the e-Co-Motion concept do not limit its
top speed until 120 km/h. This permits driving on city motorways and short
intercity routes. A three-stage modular battery concept for the traction
battery optimally fulfils the different driving range requirements of
customers. A battery with a capacity of 20 kWh could be installed for
driving ranges of around 100 km, while a battery with 30 kWh would enable a
150 km driving range. Finally, a battery with 40 kWh storage capacity is
planned for the top driving range of 200 km. The battery box was well
designed; its crossmembers and rib structure let it serve a secondary
purpose as a loadbearing body element that also helps to reduce vehicle
weight.

A key word here is workspace, because the functional orientation of the
vehicle concept is also reflected in the cleanly laid out control centre of
the e-Co-Motion. Reduced to just the essentials, this has resulted in a
commercial vehicle in the best sense of the word. It focuses on the
everyday needs of a transporter: step in, buckle up and drive off –
without having to read an operator’s manual first. There are
practical storage options for tools, documents and freight goods, but
without interfering elements. For example, instead of a selector lever, a
rotary gear selector switch is installed, and there is no conventional
handbrake lever. In turn, this simplifies walking through via the
passenger’s side door, which is also made easier by the conveniently
folding seat on the passenger’s side. While sitting in a pleasantly
elevated seat position with good all-round visibility, the driver’s
gaze only stops as it scans the cockpit, such as in viewing the control
panel for climate control and infotainment, which controls nearly all
vehicle functions from a central point and displays the necessary
information on an eight inch colour monitor. Also ingenious is the movable,
modular centre console with computer, storage compartment, drink holders
and 12 V and 230 V accessory outlets.

These are just a few examples of innovations by Volkswagen Commercial
Vehicles, which show how the e-Co-Motion concept vehicle being presented at
this year’s Geneva International Motor Show could be the ideal
zero-emissions city delivery van of the future.